Sunrise 

Fujishima Takeji likely painted this “Sunrise” with oils on canvas sometime in the early 20th century. It’s a Romantic vision of nature, where the sublime grandeur of the scene is the focus. But the very act of painting such a scene speaks to the changing social conditions in Japan at the time. Artists like Fujishima were at the forefront of the *Yoga* movement, which advocated for the adoption of Western artistic techniques and styles. These artists had to negotiate between traditional Japanese aesthetics and the new visual language of the West. It’s no coincidence that this movement gained traction as Japan opened itself to global trade and exchange. The history of artistic institutions, and their complex negotiation of local and global influences, help us understand the dynamics behind this painting. To learn more, consult archives of Japanese art schools and exhibition catalogues of the period.